Economy
Investors Stake N20.9bn on 1.5 billion Shares in Five Days
By Dipo Olowookere
The stock market in Nigeria was relatively busy last week as investors showed a renewed interest in the market, resulting in the 2.95 per cent week-on-week growth posted at the close of transactions last Friday.
In the week, the All-Share Index and market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited closed higher at 43,253.01 points and N22.572 trillion respectively.
Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of banking, insurance, NGX-AFR Bank Value, NGX AFR Div Yield, NGX MERI Growth, energy and industrial goods indices, which depreciated by 1.13 per cent, 2.25 per cent, 1.83 per cent, 0.44 per cent, 0.80 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.01 per cent respectively, while the ASeM, growth and sovereign bond indices closed flat.
However, the price movement chart showed that there were 27 appreciating stocks, higher than 23 of the previous week, while there were 36 depreciating shares, lower than 43 in the previous week, with 93 equities trading flat, higher than 90 of the earlier trading week.
Neimeth was the highest price gainer in the week, rising by 12.50 per cent to N1.98 and was trailed by Red Star Express, which grew by 12.18 per cent to N3.50.
Airtel Africa appreciated by 11.75 per cent to trade at N871.70, FTN Cocoa gained 10.00 per cent to sell for 44 kobo, while Veritas Kapital jumped by 9.52 per cent to quote at 23 kobo.
The heaviest price loser, according to data obtained by Business Post, was Conoil as its share price depleted by 14.90 per cent to N21.70.
Pharma Deko dropped 9.83 per cent to N2.11, CWG declined by 9.73 per cent to N1.02, Berger Paints depleted by 9.52 per cent to N8.55, while Custodian Investment declined by 9.47 per cent to N7.65.
At the close of transactions for the week, which had five trading sessions, investors bought and sold 1.5 billion shares worth N20.9 billion in 20,410 deals as against the 1.4 billion shares valued at N12.4 billion traded in 23,987 deals the preceding week.
Financial stocks led the activity chart with 996.6 million units worth N10.279 billion in 10,565 deals, accounting for 67.74 per cent and 49.09 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The second place was occupied by conglomerates equities with a turnover of 203.3 million units worth N1.2 billion in 834 deals, while consumer goods shares claimed the third place with the sale of 105.4 million units valued at N3.2 billion transacted in 2,789 deals.
The trio of FBN Holdings, Sterling Bank and UACN were the most active stocks in the week with 519.0 million units sold for N4.1 billion in 1,787 deals, contributing 35.28 per cent and 19.37 per cent to the total trading volume and value respectively.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc kept the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange in the green territory by 0.04 per cent on Friday, July 16.
The securities depository company added N2.50 to its share price to settle at N95.14 per unit from the preceding session’s N92.64 per unit.
However, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc slid during the session by N5.85 to N141.81 per share from N147.66 per share.
But when the bourse closed for the day, the market capitalisation increased by N1.08 billion to N2.593 trillion from N2.592 trillion, while the NASD Security Index (NSI) appreciated by 1.80 points to 4,320.67 points from 4,318.87 points.
During the session, the value of securities slid by 38.9 per cent to N63.5 million from N104.1 million, the volume of securities went down by 34.5 per cent to 1.2 million units from 4.8 million units, and the number of deals declined by 15.4 per cent to 33 deals from 39 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc was the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 75.4 million units traded for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
The bulls regained control of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday after surrendering power to the bears a day earlier as a result of mild selling pressure.
Yesterday, the Nigerian bourse rebounded by 0.54 per cent, mainly due to the gains recorded by First Holdco and others.
Data harvested by Business Post indicated that the industrial goods and energy sectors were flat, while the banking index chalked up 3.13 per cent. The insurance space expanded by 1.08 per cent, and the consumer goods counter rose by 0.21 per cent.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 1,316.52 points to 243,462.13 points from 242,145.61 points, and the market capitalisation grew by N850 billion to N157.057 trillion from N156.207 trillion.
The market breadth index was bullish during the last trading session of this week, printing 31 appreciating stocks and 23 depreciating stocks, representing strong investor sentiment.
First Holdco led the advancers’ log after it climbed 9.97 per cent to N95.95, Haldane McCall appreciated by 9.94 per cent to N3.65, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank soared by 9.73 per cent to N3.72, LASACO Assurance jumped by 5.26 per cent to N2.00, and Thomas Wyatt gained 5.10 per cent to quote at N3.09.
On the flip side, Red Star Express declined by 9.50 per cent to N20.00, Omatek slipped by 6.08 per cent to N1.70, C&I Leasing shrank by 5.93 per cent to N5.55, Jaiz Bank crashed by 5.03 per cent to N8.50, and Livestock Feed fell by 3.89 per cent to N8.65.
As for the activity chart, market participants bought and sold 685.9 million equities for N42.7 billion in 44,134 deals on Friday versus the 498.5 million equities worth N34.9 billion traded in 39,484 deals on Thursday, implying a rise in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 37.59 per cent, 22.35 per cent, and 11.78 per cent, respectively.
Investors’ darling for the day was First Holdco, with a turnover of 225.9 billion units valued at N21.0 billion, Guinea Insurance sold 53.4 million units for N45.2 million, Zenith Bank traded 41.5 million units worth N4.7 billion, Access Holdings exchanged 29.1 million units valued at N720.6 million, and UBA exchanged 27.5 million units for N1.2 billion.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to deepen its sensitisation on the newly introduced Green Tax Surcharge Policy.
The chairman of APFFLON, Mr Akeem Ayobiojo, made this plea on behalf of his colleagues on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Customs House in Abuja, during a stakeholders’ engagement with the agency.
He also called for improvements in the administration of Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports and Post Clearance Audit and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Ayobiojo stated that freight forwarders were happy to work with the customs, commending the organisation for implementing Chapter 99, describing it as a major relief for manufacturers.
He, however, emphasised that a deeper understanding of the new tax was necessary for his members, saying more predictable procedures would reduce delays and unexpected costs for importers and freight forwarders.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, assured manufacturers, freight forwarders and other players in the nation’s trade sector that the NCS would continue to engage them on fiscal policies affecting their businesses, saying sustained dialogue remains key to resolving implementation challenges and improving the country’s trading environment.
He also promised them the service’s resolve to enhance and facilitate trade, acknowledging that, “Your feedback is important because it helps us understand what is happening in the field, and where necessary, we will take your concerns to the Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant government institutions.”
Speaking about Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Mr Adeniyi further explained that Nigeria would not lower the standards required under the Authorised Economic Operator Programme as the initiative is guided by global benchmarks established by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
On her part, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for Tariff and Trade, Ms Caroline Niagwan, clarified that electric vehicles can be imported without payment of duty only by holders of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
She also urged importers facing classification disputes to take advantage of the Advance Ruling system, noting, “Once an Advance Ruling is issued based on genuine documentation, importers have certainty on classification, valuation or origin before the goods arrive, thereby reducing unnecessary disputes during clearance.”
